Why we must fix our disability crisis - the fight for basic rights for all

FUTURE generations will reflect on our treatment of disabled and vulnerable people with the same sense of shame that we now remember forced adoptions, the state's former mental health chief warns.

Public Advocate John Brayley said 1331 people with disabilities or mental illness were now on the state's most critical waiting list for a range of services and care - up from 1069 in March last year and 886 in June 2011.

Until they receive this care, these people are classed as homeless or at serious risk of homelessness, self-harm or doing harm to others.

The number topped 1000 for the first time in February 2012 and has continued to rise since.

Dr Brayley said the State Government was failing to meet its own commitments to disability services outlined in a Social Inclusion Board report, Strong Voices, last year.

However, Dr Brayley has told The Advertiser there are solutions and that the Government must follow countries such as Britain and Canada and treat the needs of the disabled and vulnerable as basic human rights.

"We need to do more now as history will judge us poorly because getting these matters right is just a fundamental component of being a civilised society," Dr Brayley said.

South Australia Law Society human rights committee chairman Dr Matthew Stubbs said the state could lead the nation in improving disability rights by implementing a human rights-based approach.

Dignity for Disability MLC Kelly Vincent said there were several looming crises in the disability sector, including an ageing generation of parents who care for their now-adult disabled children.

"A trend that will continue is parents and carers who are now into their 70s or 80s who are suffering health issues of their own and who are having to surrender their children's guardianship to the state," Ms Vincent said.

Dr Brayley said many people with disabilities and their carers hoped the planned National Disability Insurance Scheme would provide respite in coming years.

The State Government has provided $20 million over three years to fund the launch of the NDIS, which is expected to benefit 4800 SA children under 14.

However some carers, such as Garry Connor, father of two autistic boys, are not so optimistic about the NDIS.widespread reform.nte

"The NDIS was meant to be our white knight," he said. "Now the Gillard Government are bringing in a watered-down version and if they get steamrolled at the election I think the Liberals are going to water it down even further."

Disability Minister Tony Piccolo said the State Government had recognised the increased demand on disability services and had committed an extra $212 million to the sector over five years, half of which would go towards respite, accommodation and community access programs for people with disabilities and their carers.

Dr Brayley and Ms Vincent said an increasing problem was the number of people with mental illness or cognitive disabilities who ended up in prison through untreated behavioural issues.

When asked if he thought future generations would regard the state's treatment of disabled people in the same way we now remember the Stolen Generations and forced adoptions, Dr Brayley said "absolutely".

In his report, Dr Brayley also criticises the state's failure to implement an autism plan, in line with recommendations made in the Strong Voices report last year.

Dr Brayley said the lack of progress on an autism plan was both short-sighted and financially irresponsible, arguing that investment in early-intervention therapies for all autistic children would save billions of dollars into the future.

The State Government says it does not support an autism plan as it would create "specific classes of disabilities" that would lead to some groups being excluded.

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